Hours of Service (HOS) Rules
Hours of Service (HOS) are federal regulations that limit how long commercial drivers can drive and work before mandatory rest periods. Understanding these rules is critical for compliance, safety, and avoiding costly violations that affect your CSA score.
O Trucking Editorial Team
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5+ years planning loads around HOS clocks for owner-operators and fleet drivers
This article was written by the O Trucking editorial team with 9+ years of combined trucking industry experience. Learn more about us.
O TruckingThe Four Core HOS Rules
HOS regulations for property-carrying (freight) drivers are built around four key limits. Understanding how they work together is essential for every owner-operator and company driver:
11-Hour Driving Limit
Maximum driving time per shift
You may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
Example: You go off duty at 6:00 PM. After 10 hours rest (until 4:00 AM), you can drive up to 11 hours total. If you drive 6 hours in the morning, take a 2-hour break for loading, you still have 5 hours of driving time available.
14-Hour Driving Window
Total on-duty window before driving prohibited
You cannot drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty. This is a window, not a driving time limit.
Important: The 14-hour clock runs continuously once you start your day. It doesn't pause for breaks, meals, or loading. Even if you only drive 4 hours, once 14 hours pass from when you came on duty, you cannot drive again until a 10-hour break.
30-Minute Break Rule
Required break after 8 hours driving
After 8 cumulative hours of driving, you must take a 30-minute break before driving again. This can be off-duty, sleeper berth, or on-duty not driving.
2020 Change: On-duty not driving time (like loading or fueling) now counts toward the 30-minute break. Previously, only off-duty or sleeper time qualified.
70-Hour/8-Day Limit
Weekly driving/on-duty limit
You cannot drive after 70 hours on duty in 8 consecutive days(or 60 hours in 7 days for some carriers).
34-Hour Restart: You can reset your 70-hour clock by taking 34 consecutive hours off duty. This gives you a fresh 70 hours.
Rolling 8 Days: Without a restart, hours "roll off" — hours worked 9 days ago no longer count against your 70-hour total.
HOS Quick Reference
| Rule | Limit | Reset By |
|---|---|---|
| 11-Hour Driving | 11 hours max driving | 10 consecutive hours off |
| 14-Hour Window | 14 hours from start | 10 consecutive hours off |
| 30-Min Break | Required after 8 hours driving | 30 min off/sleeper/on-duty not driving |
| 70-Hour/8-Day | 70 hours in 8 days | 34-hour restart or rolling recalculation |
Split Sleeper Berth Provision
The split sleeper berth is an advanced HOS strategy that lets experienced drivers maximize their productivity. Instead of taking one continuous 10-hour break, you split it:
7/3 Split
7 hours in sleeper berth + 3 hours off-duty or sleeper. The 7-hour period doesn't count against your 14-hour window.
8/2 Split
8 hours in sleeper berth + 2 hours off-duty or sleeper. Most popular split — effectively "pauses" the 14-hour clock for the longer period.
For detailed scenarios and timeline examples showing how split sleeper works in practice, see our split sleeper berth guide.
Common HOS Violations & Penalties
Exceeding 11-Hour Driving Limit
Severity: 7 points (CSA BASICs). Can result in out-of-service order and fines up to $16,000 per violation for carriers.
Driving Beyond 14-Hour Window
Severity: 7 points. Same penalties as 11-hour violation. Often easier to violate since the clock doesn't pause for non-driving activities.
Falsifying Logs (ELD Tampering)
Severity: Up to $16,000 fine, potential license suspension, and criminal charges. Multiple instances can result in carrier shutdown.
No 30-Minute Break
Severity: 1 point (lower than driving violations). Usually results in a warning unless combined with other violations.
HOS violations directly impact your CSA score and can lead to higher insurance rates. For the complete breakdown of violations and how to avoid them, see our HOS violations guide.
Plan Your Day Around the 14-Hour Window
HOS Exemptions
Short-Haul Exemption
- Within 150 air-mile radius
- Return to work location within 14 hours
- No ELD required (time records only)
- Still must comply with 11/14/70 hour limits
Adverse Driving Conditions
- Unexpected conditions (weather, accidents)
- Extends 11-hour driving limit by 2 hours
- Extends 14-hour window by 2 hours
- Must document conditions in log
For the complete list of HOS exemptions including agricultural, oilfield, utility service, and emergency declarations, see our HOS exceptions guide.
ELD Compliance & HOS
Since the ELD mandate took full effect in 2019, most drivers must use an Electronic Logging Device to record their hours of service. ELDs automatically track driving time based on engine data, making it much harder to falsify logs.
ELD and HOS Work Together
How Our Dispatchers Plan Around Your HOS
HOS compliance isn't just about following rules — it directly affects how many loads you can run and how much you earn. Here's how our dispatch team maximizes your productivity within HOS limits:
Load planning around your available hours
Before booking any load, our dispatchers check your remaining drive time, 14-hour window, and 70-hour availability. We never book a load that puts you at risk of an HOS violation. If a load doesn't fit your clock, we find one that does — because a $16,000 fine isn't worth any freight rate.
Minimizing detention to protect your 14-hour window
We negotiate detention pay and communicate with shippers/receivers about loading times. When we know a facility has a 3-hour average wait, we factor that into your day plan — not as an afterthought, but before we accept the load.
Strategic restart and relay planning
For drivers nearing their 70-hour limit, we plan loads that allow for a 34-hour restart at a comfortable location — not stranded at a truck stop in the middle of nowhere. We also coordinate relay loads for time-sensitive freight, minimizing deadhead miles in the process.
Hours of Service Guide Collection
HOS Rules 2026
Updated regulations and changes
HOS Exceptions & Exemptions
Who qualifies for reduced HOS requirements
HOS Violations & Penalties
Common violations and how to avoid them
Split Sleeper Berth
Maximize drive time with split rest periods
34-Hour Restart Rules
When and how to reset your 70-hour clock
Hours of Service FAQ
Common questions about HOS regulations for truckers
What is the 11-hour driving rule?
You may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. This is your actual driving time limit per shift. Once you hit 11 hours of driving, you must take a 10-hour break before driving again. Driving even one minute beyond 11 hours is a 7-point CSA violation.
What is the 14-hour rule?
You may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. This is a window, not driving time — it counts down whether you're driving, loading, or waiting. You cannot extend it by taking breaks (unless using the split sleeper berth provision).
How does the 30-minute break rule work?
After 8 cumulative hours of driving, you must take a 30-minute break. Since the 2020 HOS changes, this break can be off-duty, sleeper berth, or on-duty not driving (such as fueling or loading). The break resets your 8-hour driving clock but doesn't extend your 14-hour window.
What is the 70-hour/8-day limit?
Property-carrying drivers cannot drive after accumulating 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. Most carriers use the 70-hour/8-day rule. You can reset this completely with 34 consecutive hours off duty (restart), or let hours 'roll off' — hours worked 9 days ago no longer count against your 70-hour total.
Who is exempt from HOS rules?
Key exemptions include: short-haul drivers (within 150 air-mile radius who return to work location within 14 hours), agricultural operations during planting/harvest seasons, certain utility service vehicles, and emergency declarations. However, most interstate commercial drivers must comply fully with HOS regulations.
What is the split sleeper berth provision?
Drivers can split their required 10-hour off-duty period into two periods: one of at least 7 hours in the sleeper berth and one of at least 2 hours off-duty or in the sleeper. The key benefit is that neither period counts against the 14-hour window, effectively letting you 'pause' your 14-hour clock. This is an advanced strategy covered in our split sleeper guide.
Tired of Running Out of Hours?
Our dispatchers plan loads around your HOS clock. Minimize detention, maximize driving time, and stay compliant — so you earn more without risking violations.